"As you’d expect from an opera venue, it’s grand, beautiful, doused with art, and occupies a prime piece of zip code on Barcelona's La Rambla. Yet, as with many of life’s most interesting characters, not all is quite what it seems. The vestibule, as you walk in, dates back to the building’s original construction in 1847. However, the main performance space—with a striking domed ceiling, red-velvet chairs and ornate gold moldings that have echoes of the Palace of Versailles—was actually unveiled in the grand old year of… 1999. A fire having wiped out most of the building’s structure in 1994. But you would never know. Beauty, one heck of a backstory to the building, and an extremely central location mean we’ll happily sing the Liceu’s praises. While performances will naturally provoke opinions, the setting and sound quality are undeniable hits. Plus, it’s a stunning spot in which to entertain that other great performance art—that of getting dressed up, and observing the well-dressed around you." - Gemma Askham
